By: Keith Morrison | Contributing Writer
Paris, France| February 17, 2026 |On 16 February 2026, H.E. Ambassador Yorlay, accompanied by members of his delegation, held a productive meeting with Mr. Fabien Canu, Director General of the National Institute of Sport, Expertise and Performance (INSEP), at the Institute’s headquarters in Paris.
The meeting focused on identifying potential areas of sports cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Liberia and the Government of the French Republic. Particular attention was given to strengthening collaboration through Liberia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports, INSEP, and other leading French sports institutions.
Mr. Canu warmly welcomed the Liberian delegation and reaffirmed INSEP’s commitment to international partnerships, particularly with African countries seeking to develop and modernize their national sports systems. Ambassador Yorlay expressed appreciation for the hospitality extended to the delegation and noted that the visit was intended to engage with premier sports institutions such as INSEP in order to explore concrete avenues of cooperation with Liberian counterparts, especially the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
During the discussions, Mr. Bâbak Amir-Tahmasseb Oly, Director of International Relations and Coordinator of the Grand INSEP Network and Steering Unit, conveyed appreciation for Liberia’s interest in collaboration and invited the Embassy to submit the Ministry of Youth and Sports’ sports development strategy or plan for INSEP’s review to identify opportunities for a sustainable, long-term partnership.
Mr. Oly also delivered a comprehensive presentation on INSEP’s activities, training programs, and administrative structure. The briefing provided the Liberian delegation with a clearer understanding of the Institute’s institutional framework and technical capacities, which could support future cooperation in athlete training, sports administration, and capacity-building initiatives.
Ambassador Yorlay further proposed the preparation of an official visit to France by Honorable Cornelia Wonkerleh Kruah, Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Liberia, along with senior Liberian sports administrators.
The proposal was favorably received, and the visit has been tentatively scheduled for April 2026, pending the completion of necessary arrangements. The program is expected to include meetings with the French Ministry of Sports, INSEP, and other major French sports and youth development institutions, as well as selected technical and vocational training institutions with potential for mutually beneficial cooperation.
Mr. Canu expressed INSEP’s readiness to work closely with the Embassy in preparing the Minister’s visit.
The meeting marks an important step toward strengthening bilateral relations between Liberia and France in the areas of sports development, capacity building, and youth empowerment.
With the initial discussions already successfully carried through, observers are of the view that Liberia’s Paris Mission is making enormous in rows as far as her support for the Arrest Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID) is concerned.
One keen observer noted that the Paris Embassy is certainly on the right trajectory, adding “The time is coming with the Foreign Ministry may fully orientate its current fleet of diplomats to accelerate their respective engagements horned solely on the foundation of development diplomacy with key focus on the country’s realization of the current AAID vis-à-vis various critical sector; one of which is the youth and sports.
